Concerned about my cockerel

[faz669]

Its been a strange couple weeks for him, his favorite 2 hens were taken by a foxes in the afternoon. He has not been acting normal since, stays in the coop a alot. Likes to hide amongst trees and doesnt cuckoo/ wander round and peck nowhere near as much as he did.

He seems to be eating, excreting and drinking like normal. His eyes are wide open too. But he has lost all but one of his long tail feathers gradually (think this may happen every year but not sure) . Havent seen him mate with any of the remaining 2 hens since either. And he has also hit them a couple times around food, which he has NEVER done before.

And his face has gone white, which has never happened. Im not actually sure how old he is as it was my dads chicken and he passed away. I have attached some photos, has anybody got advise for this kind of situation? Is he just sad/scared? or is the white face and scared behavior maybe the sign of illness?

Thanks

 

[chrismahon]

He looks perfectly healthy, but may well be in shock if his eyes remain dilated like that outside. His tail feathers have either fallen out because he is moulting or, more likely, they were pulled out in the same fox attack. We have had a cockerel lost all his tail feathers and was knocked out, which probably saved him as he was left for dead to be eaten another day. We have also had a cockerel in perfect health go downhill rapidly for no visible reason and then die two weeks after his favourite hen died. He was very attached to her and stood for hours waiting for her to come out of the coop, presumably thinking she was laying?

So all you can do is wait and make sure the fox can't get anywhere near them again, because it will be back, perhaps every day, hoping for another meal.

 

[faz669]

Thanks for your reply. His tale feathers have definitely been gradually dropping and were nothing to do with the fox attack.

He has been waiting outside the coop for his hens to return too. I have put in safety measures against future fox attacks, it is mainly his health I am concerned about. Seems very sheepish, scared and lethargic. Not wondering around as much or making noise. No idea why his face has gone so white too.